Developing, implementing, and operating a Coordinated Entry (CE) System for people and families experiencing homelessness is mandated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This requirement applies to HUD-designated “Continuum(s) of Care” that operate throughout the nation and here in Upstate NY. The COC for Utica/Rome, Oneida and Madison Counties is the Mohawk Valley Housing and Homeless Coalition or as the Utica/Rome, Oneida and Madison Counties COC and is assigned COC number NY-518 by HUD. Per HUD regulations, each COC has a “Collaborative Applicant” that oversees the COC process and is responsible for developing and submitting the COC’s Consolidated Application each year. The Collaborative Applicant for NY-518 is United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area (UWVGU) and is also the HUD Grantee for the COC’s Coordinated Entry Program.
The CE Specialist will work for the United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area and is responsible for the day to day administration of the homeless assistance coordinated entry/access system, including but not limited to the following;
- Program development, implementation and oversight.
- Coordination of participant services.
- Developing and achieving program measures and goals.
- Ensuring compliance with HUD policies and with local COC Coordinated Entry Policies and Procedures.
- Managing stakeholder relationships.
- Ongoing communication with UWVGU, NY-15 COC and its Board of Directors.
- Is a role model who facilitates continued growth of cultural competence among COC program and partner personnel to ensure that people and families experiencing homelessness are valued, respected, and treated with dignity at all times.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Creating and widely disseminating materials regarding services available through the Coordinated Entry/Access System and how to access those services;
- Complies, organizes and analyzes data regarding Coordinated Entry performance;
- Works with provider agencies in identified quality improvement areas;
- Designing and delivering training at least annually to all key stakeholder organizations, including but not limited to the required training for Coordinated Entry/Access Staff;
- Ensuring that pertinent information is entered into HMIS for monitoring and tracking the process of referrals including vacancy reporting and completion of assessments; Performing CE Assessments for homeless persons and families as needed when street outreach or shelter staff are unable to do these assessments in a timely manner. (NOTE: the primary responsibility for performing CE assessments resides with Outreach and Shelter personnel.)
- Managing the case conference process to review and resolve rejection decision by receiving program and refusals by clients to engage in a housing plan in compliance with receiving program guidelines;
- Managing an eligibility determination appeals process in compliance with the protocols described in this manual;
- Designing and executing ongoing quality control activities to ensure clarity, transparency, and consistency in order to remain accountable to clients, referral sources, and homeless service providers throughout the coordinated access process;
- Periodically evaluating efforts to ensure that the coordinated access system is functional as intended;
- Making periodic adjustments to the Coordinated Entry/Access System in consultation with the COC Planning Office and the COC Board as determined necessary;
- Ensuring that evaluation and adjustment processes are informed by a board and representative group of stakeholders;
- Reviewing and updating policies and procedures
- Managing all PR requests related to the Coordinated Entry/Access System.
- Build and sustain strong working relationships and act as a liaison with Oneida County emergency shelters, COC members and other providers of services to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
- Participate in meeting s associated with the Utica/Rome, Oneida and Madison Counties COC, including the Coordinated Entry Workgroup, RHY committee, and others as appropriate.
- Participate in trainings related to homelessness, HMIS and any other trainings associated with, shelter systems and housing and others as needed.
- Works with HMIS administrator to review and evaluate the functionality of HMIS to incorporate the Coordinated Entry elements and to support the CE process
Educational Background:
An Associate’s (2-year) Degree in a human service field
Skills/Experience:
- 5 or more years of experience working with populations that are challenged with maintaining permanent housing (e.g. those fleeing domestic violence, veterans, people struggling with behavioral health disabilities, etc.)
Preferred Requirement:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in a human service field with 2 or more years of experience working with populations that are challenged with maintaining permanent housing (e.g. those fleeing domestic violence, veterans, people struggling with behavioral health disabilities, etc.) OR
- A Master of Social Work Degree with 1 or more years of experience working with populations that are challenged with maintaining permanent housing (e.g. those fleeing domestic violence, veterans, people struggling with behavioral health disabilities, etc.)
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Proficiency with MS Office products, including WORD, EXCEL, OUTLOOK and POWERPOINT.
- Experience in planning, organizing, and working collaboratively within social service delivery systems.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent organization and time management skills
- Ability to multi-task
- Ability to work independently and exercise solid judgement on a range of issues
- Comfortable with public speaking
- Experience working with community-based coalition
- Cultural competency skills to work effectively with diverse populations
Physical Demands:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear.
- The position requires extensive computer use so the employee must have sufficient hand dexterity to use a computer keyboard and be capable of reading a computer screen.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
- At times, the job can require long hours and work on weekends.
- Occasional long-distance travel is required to attend meetings, events, conferences and trainings.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jun 12 2019
Active Until:
Jul 12 2019
Hiring Organization:
United Way Worldwide
industry:
Nonprofit